AI now offers a modified version of their Artic Warfare
rifle's chassis for use with Remington's widely-popular
.308 M700 action. Known as the Accuracy International
Chassis System (AICS), it offers many of the distinctive
features of the AW rifle. In fact, the AICS is identical
in every respect to the AW's chassis system in terms
of quality and functionality.

The AICS accepts just about any .308 Remington that
is built on an M700 action including the ADL, BDL, PSS,
PSS-DM and the new PDM Light Tactical Rifle. Many
of these rifles are shipped from Remington with H-S
Precision stocks which feature an aluminum bedding
block that alleviates the need for any type of glass
bedding. The AICS is similiar in this respect, and an
M700's installation procedure is very simple:

remove the two screws that secure the action to
the existing stock,

lift the barreled action out of the stock,

set aside the magazine assembly (regardless of
its configuration),

properly situate the barreled action in the AICS,

finally, secure the action to the AICS by using
the two allen-head screws that are supplied with it.
(This requires a 3/16" allen wrench.)

The AICS dispenses with the various types of magazine
systems used in factory or custom M700s, and it instead
uses a proprietary, 5-round, flush-fitting, detachable
steel magazine very similar to that found on the AW.
This magazine has an aluminum follower and a center
feed design for reliable operation in any .308 M700
variant. The wide, serrated mag catch is located
just in front of the trigger guard as on the AW. The
AW's magazine system has been thoroughly tested
under the most adverse conditions in at least 42
countries, and it has proven to be very robust. While
AW and AICS magazines are not interchangeable,
the AICS still offers the most functional and versatile
magazine system ever designed for an M700. AICS
kits are sold with one magazine, and extras are
available on demand.

Each AICS is shipped with the two full-length polymer
stock panels (in either olive drab, black or grey) already
fastened to the black aluminum chassis by eight
allen-head bolts. Installation of the barreled action
does not require that these panels be removed. There
is enough space between the forward portions of these
panels and above the forward portion of the chassis
to free float a full heavy 1.25" barrel.

The two panels form the trigger guard which is both
wide enough to prevent a sling or other personal
equipment from snagging the trigger and elongated
enough to accommodate a gloved trigger finger. A
keyhole-shaped port between the panels provides
a channel for the trigger to arc back through during
firing as well as sufficient area around the bolt catch
to allow the user to remove the bolt while wearing
gloves. The AICS is designed to accept most
popular custom triggers including those made
by Jewell, Shilen and Timney, among others.

The forward part of the chassis has provisions for mounting
two of the most common types of bipods: those patterned
after the Parker-Hale and those made by Harris Engineering.
The Parker-Hale type bipod that is used on AWs includes
a fixed spigot that extends rearward and locks into a port
in the chassis' face, and the bipod is detached from the
weapon by pressing a spring-loaded catch on the bottom
of the chassis. Unlike the AW, the AICS also sports a mounting
stud for Harris Engineering's wide range of lightweight bipods.
AI offers both types of bipods as accessories for the AICS.
(They offer Harris Engineering's newer Benchrest Swivel
model which uses a dual spring-loaded platform that allows
the user to cant the rifle slightly to the right or left.)

Just aft of the Harris bipod mounting stud is a rail that
accepts an optional aluminum hand-stop which is available
with or without a sling attachment point. The AICS is
outfitted with front and rear steel, chassis-mounted sling
points that protrude through holes that are molded into
both sides of the stock panels. The AW's nylon sling
with spring-loaded QD catches was designed for use
with this system and is available in either black or olive
drab.

As with the AW, the rear portion of the AICS has a very
distinctive profile, and a close look at this area reveals
ergonomics and human engineering that are superior to
most other designs. AI's design team obviously employed
a lesson that Steyr learned when creating their AUG:
as long as you intend to injection mold a polymer stock,
even with utility in mind, it is worth taking the time to
sculpt it for maximum comfort and versatility. This is
precisely what AI has done. The ambidextrous grip is
comfortable and not oversized, the area on either side
of the stock to the rear of the thumbhole flares out
gradually so that is does not interfere with the shooter's
wristbone and a hook in the bottom of the stock allows
the shooter to tuck the rifle in tightly to the shoulder.

A raised cheekrest that is molded into the standard AICS
stock panels offers ample eye relief with common
optics and mounting systems. As an option for those
who intend to use specialized sighting systems such
as night vision devices, the AICS is available at the
time of order with a cheek piece that adjusts both
vertically and horizontally. The adjustment screws are
recessed so as to not intefere with the stock's ambidexterity.
Both cheek rests are comfortably contoured, and neither
of them intefere with the removal of the M700's short-action
bolt - an operation that the user can perform with
the adjustable cheek piece fully raised.

The user can also adjust the rifle's length of pull by
adding or removing spacers between the chassis and
the soft rubber recoil pad. In either case, all that the
user must do to access the spacers is remove the
recoil pad with an allen wrench.

The AICS is currently available in its Stage I form: a
fixed chassis for any Remington .308 M700 with a choice
of green, black or grey stock panels. Also available on a
limited basis is a Stage II variant featuring a chassis
that is hinged at the thumbhole and folds to the left
of the rifle. AI is further considering Stage I and Stage
II variants for Remington M700s that are chambered
in 30.06 and .300 Win Mag, though popular demand
will ultimately determine if and when these become
available.

The quality and functionality inherent to the AICS
are guaranteed to satisfy the requirements of the
most demanding users. It is a slightly-modified version
of the same chassis system that Accuracy International
supplies with their Artic Warfare rifle to tactical
marksmen worldwide, and the concepts and construction
of this system have been thoroughly tested under
the harshest conditions. While some may consider
the AICS cost-prohibitive, it offers the greatest
value to those who wish to extend as many of the
AW's advantages as possible to their Remington
.308 M700s - right out of the box and with no gunsmithing
required.